The violence in the city on Tuesday has caused damage worth lakhs of rupees. The rampaging mob of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) and other workers’ organisations went on smashing and destroying property, as stunned residents stood and watched.

Several private vehicles parked near the rally venue, the Cricket Stadium roundabout, bore the brunt of the violence, which has left a ‘blot’ on the image of the UT police.

Vehicles parked outside houses in sectors 22, 23 and 16 became targets of the agitated mob in the presence of the hapless owners. In some cases, vehicles were smashed beyond recognition.

While the police have followed legal procedures by registering cases and arresting dozens of protesters, the residents don’t know whom to blame. The police say the vehicle-owners can avail insurance, but that doesn’t comfort the residents.

Eleven private vehicles were damaged by the mob — five were burnt and three are beyond recognition now. This is besides the 17 government vehicles (four burnt) and six private vehicles (one burnt, one completely damaged) belonging to the police personnel damaged by the mob.

A day after, Newsline meets these residents, who saw “unknown people smashing their cars”.

z Saurav Khanna, who lives in Sector 22, had recently brought a new Maruti Swift Dzire car. On Tuesday evening, he had gone to his accountant in Sector 22 to deliver some documents and parked his car outside the accountant’s house. As the violence began, agitated protesters ran towards Sector 22-A residential area. Khanna’s car (CH-04-F-7086) was an easy target.

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